Population Health: The Overhaul

The health care system needs an overhaul. Dr. Grace Terrell sees that firsthand, every day, as CEO of one of North Carolina’s first accountable care organizations (ACO). Terrell describes her ACO adventure (with more than 350 physician partners alongside) as providing answers for population health as a whole. Her prescription: redesigned patient models, redesigned infrastructure for delivering care and a redesigned method of paying for it. Terrell reports that so far, her remodeled organization has required some improvisation and has made a few mistakes. But, she adds, a continued focus on the patient—and what’s right for the patient—resolved the missteps.